World Communion Sunday

Today is World Communion Sunday -- a celebration begun by the Presbyterian Church in 1937, now celebrated by Christians, Protestant and Catholic, around the world. Today Christians from every culture break bread and pour wine or juice together. We may have different practices, different theological understandings for sharing this meal; but on this day, men, women, and children of every language, color, and nationality gather in fields, straw huts, brick schools, wooden shacks, stone cathedrals, this sanctuary to praise God and entering into physical and spiritual communion with one another.

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Tis A Gift To Be Humble – Servant Power

Servant Power, the title of this sermon -- I looked up those words in Merriam Webster. The first definition of servant -- one that serves others, especially one that performs duties about the person or home of a master. Definition of power, same source -- possession of control, authority, or influence over others. Using those definitions, the phrase Servant Power seems an oxymoron, at the very least a paradox, something contradictory or opposed to common sense, yet perhaps true

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Christ’s Call to Us

When I look at or listen to the news, it’s easy to get pessimistic and wonder what’s the use. We can get trapped by pessimism. UCC pastor, Donna Schaper, calls it a soft cage – a prison to which we consent and even encourage. You know – the attitude of there’s nothing to be done; I can’t do anything about it – Congress needs to and they’re not doing anything but causing more problems. Or there’s too many people who don’t see the importance of making changes. We’re stuck with poverty, homelessness, crime, war, unequal access to health care, or a myriad of other issues. Do we dare hope for a better world?

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Spirit-led Living

This passage contains one of Jesus’ hardest sayings. “If anyone would come after me, he says to his disciples, “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.“ These words of Jesus come in the midst of an exchange with Peter:, Jesus telling his disciples what was coming: his great suffering, being killed, and then rising on the third day, and Peter’s vehement reaction: God forbid it, Lord. This must never happen to you.” For Peter a violent death was unthinkable for the messiah he was following. Certainly it could be avoided. It was as if Peter said to Jesus: Don’t walk into this trap. Why take the risk of going into Jerusalem.

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Sunday, August 21st

Please take a moment to listen to Sunday's Sermon.

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